Teacher Feature

Featured Teacher  - Ms. Michele Melius

7th grade US History and 8th grade Global Studies at Clearwater Middle School, Waconia

Why did you choose to become an educator?

I come from a family of educators ranging from Music to Social Studies. I had great teachers growing up in a tightly knit town in Southwestern Minnesota and hoped to inspire and share that enthusiasm and love of learning with others.

How has agriculture and the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Program impacted your students and instruction?

Anytime you are able to teach across curriculum and create authentic learning experiences you will find that a student has a better understanding of the subject. The AgMag has done a great job of providing engaging examples, activities and resources in all subject areas that explain the importance of agriculture to students of all ages.

What advice do you have for other teachers on implementing agriculture into their classroom? 

There are so many connections between agriculture and core subjects. If you want your students to really grasp a concept and relate to it, use a variety of teaching methods to apply agricultural examples that will encourage a more authentic and relevant learning experience.

Ms. Melius's Outstanding Agriculture Applications!

My school has always encouraged teachers to create, within their curriculum, a way for students to connect with their community. In 2008, Clearwater purchased and cultivated approximately three acres of farm land to establish Waconia's Edible Classroom.  This garden and orchard project was designed to foster environmental stewardship, promote healthy eating habits and enhance the school lunch program. Clearwater Middle School staff has been instrumental in nurturing this project and using it as a learning experience in all core subjects for our students.

               

Keeping the theme of Community, I used an Ag-Literacy grant to help fund a 7th grade field-trip to the MN Landscape Arboretum this fall. Working with Britta DeVinny, my science colleague and the Arb education staff, we created a bountiful buffet of attractions including 22 stations around the grounds. These stations covered a variety of topics such as: the science behind creating hardy plants, the importance of composting, scientific method, local geography and history were also incorporated.   A great majority of the field trip's content was in alignment with multiple 7th grade MN State History and Science Standards.

 

Ms. Michele Melius poses in a tractor tire as a participant in the MN Alliance for Geographic Education 2012 summer agriculture tour.

 

Grant Winners!

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom proudly sponsors an agricultural literacy grant program. Cash awards (maximum of $400) are offered to encourage educators to bring agriculture and food systems education to life by integrating related content into their classroom or school.Grant applications are accepted and awarded twice a year  - October 1st and February 15th. Congratulations to the first round of winners for the 2012-2013 school year!  Complete list of grant winners.

Fantastic Resources   

Minnesota Agriculture is Everywhere Poster/Placemat

This bright colored and eye-catching resource contains fun facts that students love and includes a handy map of Minnesota agriculture crops and animals. Available FREE on the MN Agriculture in the Classroom website. 

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Education Specialist, Sue Knott, has been traveling Minnesota to share hands-on activities, lesson plans and teaching techniques with the topic of agriculture as the context. Pre-service teachers at Bethany Lutheran College, Crown College, College of St. Benedict, St. Catherine's University, St. Cloud State University, Saint Mary's University, and the University of Minnesota, Morris have been excited about putting the MAITC resources to use in their student teaching experiences and future classrooms. In-service teachers at the Southwest Minnesota Reading Council, Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education GEOFEST, Education Minnesota Conference and Minnehaha Elementary School in Two Harbors, MN have also been enthusiastic about incorporating agricultural topics into their science, social studies, language arts, and health lessons.  Additional visits with educators are continuing throughout the year. 

Pre-service teachers at the College of St. Benedict's display their maps showing where wheat, soybeans and corn are grown in Minnesota.